04/10/2013 (Agence Europe) - Criticism about European concerns. On 3 October, the head of the socio-political department of Azerbaijan's presidency, Ali Hassanov, criticised the statements of concern made the same day by High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton and Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Stefan Füle (see EUROPE 10935). Hassanov believed that Ashton and Füle's criticism is based on “non-objective, one-sided and biased information distorting the real state of the election process in Azerbaijan.” “We believe that allegations on the so-called pressure against civil society activists and media representatives in Azerbaijan during he election period are attempts to cast a shadow on free and democratic elections”, he said, quoted by the APA news agency. In Hassanov's view, “the election campaign in Azerbaijan is being conducted in accordance with the current legislation and international experience”. “We hope that further opinions and statements of the EU officials will be more balanced and in line with reality”, he said. (CG/transl.fl)